I hope someone can help me. I just bought a 2009 PT base model and when I start the car and all the dash lights come to go through their self-check mode, the small red light in the center comes on but I've never been able to discern if this vehicle has an actual alarm on it. I've tried looking in through the window when I lock the doors with the fob and don't see anything flashing like its arming. If I don't have the built-in alarm, why do I have the light on the dash???

You should have an owners manual that explains how the alarm system works.

If you want to be sure, roll down your drivers window, lock the car and then reach in and pull the door handle open. If you have an alarm (horn & lights) it will sound the horn and flash the lights for about 1 minute and then reset itself.

or you can pull off your negitive battery cable and reconnect it...if it has one.... it WILL go off LOL Trust me on this one.... its loud! and the idiots put the horn right next to where you put the battery cables back on at :{

or you can pull off your negitive battery cable and reconnect it...if it has one.... it WILL go off LOL Trust me on this one.... its loud! and the idiots put the horn right next to where you put the battery cables back on at :{

Chrysler must have really changed things around in the 06+ models because in the 00-05 models, the negative battery cable is on the drivers side whereas the horn is under the inner fender on the passenger side.

The red light also is used for the key sentry system. The keys have a little chip which communicates with a module under the ignition switch and if a key with the wrong chip is used to try and start the car, the car will shut off after 2 seconds. The red light comes on for 3 seconds as a bulb check. If the light stays on this means there is a problem with the electronics. If the the bulb flashes it means the key is not programed to the vehicle. Either of these conditions will cause the car to only run for 2 seconds.